At the Methodist Conference of 1862, the Rev John Manton proposed that a collegiate institute, 'decidedly Wesleyan in character', be founded in Sydney. It was expected that the school would 'be open to the sons of parents of all religious denominations', and on Thursday, 16 July 1863, the Wesleyan Collegiate Institute opened with 16 boys and a small number of theological students. As no suitable buildings were available in Sydney at the time, Newington House, the centrepiece of the 1,200-acre (4.9 km2) John Blaxland's estate at Silverwater, was leased.

Expanding student numbers meant that more extensive premises closer to the city were required. A bequest by John Jones of land at Stanmore saw the College move to the newly fashionable inner-city suburbs. A grand stone edifice was designed by Thomas Rowe and has been described by architectural historian Morton Herman as 'an almost perfect example of scholastic Gothic Revival architecture'.[13] Earth-moving work began on the site in 1876 and by May 1878 the building had reached first floor height. A public ceremony was held and six commemorative stones were laid. Amongst the six given the honour of laying the stones were SirGeorge Wigram AllenKCMG[14] the philanthropist who was Speaker of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly. He had lent £12,000 for the new buildings at Stanmore and later endowed the Wigram Allen Scholarship for boys proceeding to matriculation. The formal opening of the new school building was by Sir George on 18 January 1881. By resolution of the College Council, the name Newington College was perpetuated on the new site. Seventy school and theological students migrated from Silverwater to Stanmore and Newington has remained there ever since.[15]

In 1925 a rowing facility was built at Abbotsford, and in 1957 another preparatory school was founded on the North Shore – first at Killara, but now at Lindfield. Since the Second World War, the College buildings and facilities have expanded significantly.

During the Headmastership of Tony Rae the Senior Block (1972) and Resources Centre Library (1975) were opened. A new Physical Education Centre was opened by Old Newingtonian Nick Farr-Jones AM, and a new boatshed at Abbotsford were two of the most important property additions. In 1998, while Michael Smee was Headmaster, Wyvern House moved to a separate campus in Cambridge Street, Stanmore. The former Wyvern House building was then renovated and renamed the Le Couteur Wing in memory of former Headmaster Philip Le Couteur.[16] Le Couteur was re-renovated early in 2014 and visual arts classes ow occupy the first floor with languages and learning enhancement classes held on level two.[17]

During 2006, the press reported on an industrial relations dispute at Newington in which then Headmaster David Scott planned to force staff to re-apply for their jobs in a restructure that would also reduce their holidays. Scott said that 'The action was taken after a comprehensive review of the school and had nothing to do with the federal government's Work Choices reforms'[18] The Sydney Morning Herald reported that David Scott believed that the union was being mischievous 'at best', or using an 'outright and deliberate lie' in suggesting the restructure was linked to workplace legislation.[19] Following a meeting between the Independent Education Union and Newington College, Scott agreed to not declare senior staff positions vacant and the school continued to negotiate collective arrangements covering salary and working conditions for staff.[20]

The current Headmaster is Dr David Mulford, who was appointed to the position in 2009. In 2012 the Nesbit Wing, built prior to the college centenary in 1963, was refurbished and extended to encompass the Technology Centre.[21] Between 2009 and 2012 Newington spent $78 million on capital works, which is reported to be more than any other school in NSW. $33.7 million was outlaid on infrastructure alone in 2012.[22] In 2013 the College celebrated its Sesquicentenary[23] with the opening of two new buildings honouring two former Headmasters – The Lawrence Pyke Science Centre and The Tony Rae Resources Centre Library. This development was awarded the Master Builders Association of New South Wales's Excellence in Construction Award and was funded by donations and parent fees. The $20 million award-winning facilities at the Stanmore campus cover over 1200 square metres and contain a library, a 250-seat lecture theatre, the new boarders' dining room, a cafeteria, and science labs.[24] In November 2013, the PE Centre was renamed the Taylor Sports Centre in honour of Old Newingtonian cricket and rugby union international Johnny Taylor. The naming was performed by Old Newingtonian Olympic rower and coach Michael Morgan OAM.[25]

The Newington College College Act allows for the appointment of up to 24 members of the Council: nine clerical appointments; nine lay appointments; and six members nominated by the Old Newingtonians Union (ONU). In 2014 the following were members of the Council.[26]

Tony McDonald is the current Chairman of the Executive Committee of the College Council. He has been an ONU-nominated member of the Council since 2007. He is an Old Boy, and father of three Old Boys and one current Newington student.

Suzanne Bennett has been a lay Synod appointment to Council since 2001. Her husband and three sons all attended Newington.

Bruce Carroll has served on the Council on three occasions: from 1991 until 1994, 1998 until 2003 and again since 2006. He and his son are Old Newingtonians and Carroll is a past President of the ONU.

Chris Collings is an Old Newingtonian and has been an ONU-nominated member of Council since 2014.

The Rev Manas Ghosh is a Uniting Church Minister and has been a clerical Synod appointment to the Council since 2003.

His HonourMagistrate Greg Grogin has been an ONU-nominated member of the Council since 2001. He is an Old Boy, father of two Old Boys and a past President of the ONU.

Phil Holey has been an ONU-nominated member of the Council since 2003. He is an Old Newingtonian and the father of two Old Boys

Mario Isaias has been a member of the Council since 2007. He is an Old Newingtonian, the father of two Old Newingtonians and a past Chairman of the ONU Centennial Trust.

The Rev Dr David MantonOAM has been a clerical Synod appointment to the Council since 1984. He is a past Moderator of NSW Synod. Manton is an Old Newingtonian, the great-grandson of Newington's founder, the father of three Old Newingtonians and grandfather two current students.

Michael MorganOAM has been a member of the Council since 2007. He is an Old Boy and a past member of staff.

Chris Mort has been a member of the Council since 2008. He is an Old Newingtonian and the father of two Old Newingtonians.

The Rev Dr John Pender is a retired Uniting Church Minister. He has been a clerical appointment to the Council since 1997 and Deputy Chairman since 2002. He is the father of an Old Newingtonian.

The Rev Niall Reid has been a clerical Synod appointment to the Council since 2012. He is a past Moderator of NSW Synod.

Pippa Sears has been a lay Synod appointment to the Council since 2006. She is the mother of an Old Newingtonian and a current student.

Scott Turner has been a member of the Council since 2009. He is an Old Boy and father of a current student.

Melinda Snowden was appointed to Council in 2014 and is a current Newington parent of two sons.

The HonRobert Webster has been an ONU-nominated member of the Council since 2012. He is an Old Newingtonian, the son of an Old Newingtonian and the father of a current Newington student.

From its founding in 1863 until 1900, Newington had a system of dual control with a President (who was an ordained minister) and a Headmaster. As an ordained minister, Charles Prescott assumed both roles on his appointment in 1900 and, on his retirement in 1931, the role of President was abolished.

The long service of masters at Newington College is recognised in a number of ways. In 1955 a marblecommemorative plaque was set in the north-western wall of the Prescott Hall to commemorate the work of three very long serving staff members and their Head, with the inscription:

THIS STONE WAS SET IN PLACE IN RECOGNITION OF DEVOTED SERVICE
TO NEWINGTON COLLEGE BY A HEADMASTER AND HIS THREE SENIOR MASTERS

THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE BOYS IN THEIR CARE WAS A CHALLENGE AND AN INSPIRATION TO YOUNG LIVES

These masters are further recognised by the naming of the Buchanan Oval, Ben Jarvie Staff Common Room and Cortis JonesLecture Theatre. Another long-serving master of the first half of the 20th Century was Colonel Albert Douglas Arthur (1889-1949). In 1951 the college library was housed in a new room and renamed the A.D. Arthur MemorialLibrary in his honour. The library moved into the Nesbitt Wing upon its completion and when it moved again into Prescott Hall an adjoining study room was named the A.D. Arthur Annex. Arthur's name has not been connected with the college library since the 1970s but his portrait in oils still hangs in the Ben Jarvie Common Room. In 2014, past masters Phil Davis OAM and Robert Buntine were honoured with rooms in the AJ Rae Resource and Library Centre being named after them. Davis is the college's third-longest serving master (1951–2000), after Cortis Jones and Jarvie, and Buntine was the Deputy Headmaster during the headship of Tony Rae.[29]

Since 1898, the Senior Prefect has been the captain of the school. The first student to hold that position was Sandy Phillips. In 2012, the Senior Prefect was Michael Cameron,[31] whose father, Bruce Cameron, was Senior Prefect in 1974 and grandfather, Doug Cameron, was Senior Prefect in 1946. Since 1961 there has been a Deputy Senior Prefect and from 1991 it has been the custom to appoint two Deputies. A Senior Boarder Prefect has been appointed since 1932 when Philip Le Couteur, as Headmaster, instituted a House System. The Houses, eight in total,[32] are led by a House Captain and a House Vice-Captain, or two. Until 1988, a select number of students were appointed as Prefect. Since that time, it has been the practice in Term 4 to offer all Year 11 boys the position of House Prefect and at the end of Year 12 to confirm as School Prefect all those judged to have discharged their duties in an exemplary manner. In 1950 and 1951, under the Headship of Mervyn Austin, Probationer Prefects were appointed and from 1953 until 1967 they were known as Sub-Prefects. That title was again used from 1983 until the current system of leaders was started in 1988. In one year only, 1971 during the Acting Headship of Owen Dudley, Monitors were appointed.[33]

The Old Boys' Prize is the most senior of the citizenship prizes awarded at Newington and is presented for scholarship, sportsmanship and moral qualities. Loyalty and leadership are equally weighed in this award.[33] It was first awarded in 1904 and shared by Thomas Gale and Oliver Woodward. It has been awarded annually since then and recipients have included: Carleton Allen (1905); Bryan Ward (1924) shared with Jonathon Joyce; John Lawes (1925) shared with Richard Hay; Denis Cowper (1926) shared with Den Joyce; Bym Porter (1927) shared with Arthur Parton; George Wright (1935); Marshall Hatch (1950); Graham Colditz (1972); and Stephen Rae (1979). For four years in a row the prize was awarded to students who were to serve and die in World War I: David Murray (1910); Morven Nolan (1911); Clifford Holliday (1912); and Roxy Muir (1913). The Old Boys Prize was not awarded the following year (1914).

The secondary campus is located in Stanmore, in Sydney's inner-west. The student body consists of approximately 50 boarders and 1,700 day students from Years 7 to 12. Newington boarders come from country and city, interstate and overseas. Day students are drawn from all over the Sydney greater metropolitan area. The Newington College Senior Campus is considered to be one of the most efficient and intellectual schools in the Southern Hemisphere.[3]

Newington has educated primary school (Kindergarten to Year 6) aged boys since 1863. In 1938 Wyvern House opened in a separate school building on the Stanmore campus and accepted its first students in 1939. Wyvern moved to new premises in Cambridge Street, Stanmore, a few minutes' walk from the secondary school, in 1998. It has approximately 480 students – all day students. There are two classes in each of Years K to 2, three classes in Years 3 to 4 and four classes in Years 5 to 6. The Head of Wyvern House is Ian Holden[38]

The Newington College Preparatory School was established initially at Killara (1957) and later at Lindfield (1967), in response to requests from Old Newingtonians that a preparatory school be established on the North Shore of Sydney. The Head of Newington College, Lindfield, is Chris Wyatt.[39] It is a single-stream school, with approximately 160 students from Kindergarten to Year 6 and is set in a bushland location where the Students are constantly in touch with nature. The school features a basketball/tennis court, climbing gym areas, swimming pool and connects to the bush trails of Swain Gardens. Each classroom includes effective information communication technology tools. Classrooms have dedicated computer and wet areas, and bag storage areas. There are special facilities for music, art and French. A tuckshop operates three days a week. The campus has just undergone a major redevelopment of classrooms and the addition of a new hall, library and visual arts room.[40] Students in Years 3–6 compete in the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) Competition held on Saturday mornings. Every student competes in a summer (basketball or cricket) or winter sport (rugby or soccer). Newington's preparatory schools combine for annual carnivals in swimming, athletics and cross country.[41]

Work began in October 1952 on the War Memorial Classroom Block and the Old Boy benefactor W.R. Glasson unveiled the foundation stone.[42] In June 1953 the building was opened by ColonelThomas MillnerMCVD. The War Memorial Science Building was opened in July 1955 by SirIven MackayKBECMGDSOVD when he unveiled a stone memorial wall with the following inscription:[43]

TO THE GLORY OF GOD

THE WAR MEMORIAL CLASSROOMS AND SCIENCE BUILDING WERE ERECTED
SO THAT NEWINGTONIANS THROUGH THE YEARS MIGHT CONTINUALLY
HONOUR THE SERVICE SACRIFICE AND DEATH OF OLD NEWINGTONIANS
IN THE WORLD WAR 1939 – 1945

LET THE FINE MEMORIESTHY SOUL WITH LIMPID MIRRORING REPEAT

THIS SCIENCE BUILDING WAS OPENED 30TH JULY 1955BY LT.-GEN. SIR IVEN MACKAY, K.B.E., C.M.G., D.S.O., V.D.,AN OLD NEWINGTONIAN

Gunner Jack Johnson, an Old Newingtonian, died of wounds on a Belgian battlefield in 1917[44] and in his memory, his parents, Frank and Sarah Johnson, provided £1,100 for the college to level part of the existing playing fields. This provided a Rugby Union ground of full size, and was named the Johnson Oval. At the corners brick retaining walls, to a design by Arthur Anderson, protected the steep banks.[45]

The sandstone Memorial to the Dead was designed by the Old Newingtonian architect William Hardy Wilson and is now sited between the Centenary Hall and the Chapel. It was originally placed in a grove of trees to the north of the Founders Wing but was moved to its present location in the early 1960s to make way for the construction of the Centenary Hall which was opened in 1963. The memorial comprises a semi-circular wall and seat, with pillars surmounted by white stone urns at either end and a column with a sundial stands at the centre. The inscription on the wall reads:

Commemorating Prisoners of War during World War I, this tree comes from a seedling propagated from a pine cone brought home from Gallipoli by an Australian soldier. The tree stands in a triangular area of grass formed by the merging of the Cowlishaw Drive and the War Memorial Drive. A bronze commemorative plaque on a stone plinth has the following inscription:

The Gallipoli Lone Pine – During the 1914–1918 Great War, Australian and New Zealand forces landed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915 to attack Turkish forces. Eight months later they withdrew. One significant battle occurred on the ridge where a lone pine stood. ANZAC forces finally occupied the Turkish position, but with the tragic loss of 2,227 men. Turkish losses were around 5,000. During the withdrawal from ANZAC Cove, an Australian soldier picked up a pine cone and brought it home, where the seeds were propagated. Since 1933, when the pines became of good size and yielded more seedlings, Legacy arranged for pine trees to be distributed to schools and interested groups to help keep the memory of the Gallipoli Lone Pine alive.

Twenty four brassplaques were hung in Prescott Hall as memorials to individual Old Newingtonians who died during World War I. Further plaques were added after World War II but they were all removed when the hall was renovated in 1979. They were then placed on the first floor balcony of the War Memorial Classroom Block. They were later placed in the archives collection. In 1995 they were restored and repositioned in the chapel's glass ambulatory overlooking the 1914–1918 Memorial to the Dead.[49] Included amongst these plaques is one in memory of William Tasker.

In 1936 the War Memorial Drive was planted with 75 poplars, each with a cross at the foot and a plaque honouring individual Old Newingtonians who died during World War II. The trees were replaced by a new avenue of trees in 1966 and the plaques were replaced by a tablet on a plinth with the inscription:

Lest We Forget – This plaque was dedicated on 24 September 1966, to mark the planting of trees alongside the War Memorial Drive by the Old Newingtonians' Union to restore those originally planted by the Union on 29 February 1936. By this act Old Newingtonians remember those Old Boys who gave their lives in the service of God, King and Country, and whose names are recorded on the War Memorial of the School.

Fifty of the original plaques remain in the archives collection. In 1979 the War Memorial Drive was realigned and replanted and the 1966 plinth was moved to the Millner Gates end of the drive.[50]

A bronze tablet recording the names of 44 Old Newingtonians who served in the Boer War hangs in Prescott Hall in the Founders Wing. It is set in a Gothic frame of columns with a plinth and cornice. The inscription reads:

Floreat Newingtonia – Erected by Old Boys of Newington College in honour of Newingtonians who fought for the Empire in South Africa 1899-1902.

Over six hundred Old Newingtonians enlisted during World War I and the loss of life was appalling. By wars end, 109 Old Boys had died for God, King and Country. Prior to 1920 the walls of the vestibule at the entrance to the Founders Wing had been hung with sporting teams photographs. In 1921 this space was transformed by the installation of white marble tablets, encased in Queensland maple, upon which were inscribed the names of Old Boys who had served. Those who had made the supreme sacrifice are listed on the central panels below the words:

These Nobly Strining, Nobly Fell.

With a black and white marble floor and stained glass door panels this space takes on the feel of a small chapel.[52]

This wooden honour board records the names of 45 Old Newingtonians who served in Australia's armed forces in conflicts post-World War II and is on the southern wall of the Centenary Hall foyer. It is inscribed:

In every generation good men must defend what they believe to be right and Newington remembers with pride her sons who served their sovereign and country in the cause of liberty in international conflicts from 1948 to 1973.

Holliday Scholarship – awarded to the Dux of Year Nine. Donated by his parents in memory of Clifford Dawson "Bob" Holliday who was killed in action in France in 1916 during World War I.[58] This prize was originally awarded for scriptural knowledge in the Sixth Form.[45] Holiday was at Newington 1905-1914.[59]

David Jacobs Trophy – awarded to the most successful non-competition Rugby Union team above the Under 13s. Donated by his brothers in memory of David Jacobs who was killed during a flying battle over the Timor Sea in 1942 during World War II.[60] Jacobs was at Newington 1933-1935.[61]

Harry Kershaw Prize – awarded to the Best All-Round Sportsman. Donated by his parents in memory of Henry "Harry" Burton Kershaw who was killed during a flying battle over New Guinea in 1943 during World War II.[62] Kershaw was at Newington 1922-1930.[63]

Jack Thorncraft Trophy – awarded for Loyalty and Service to the College. Donated by M A Dawes in memory of Jack William Herbert Thorncraft who died in 1942 during World War II.[64] Thorncraft was at Newington 1935-1937.[65]

Warry Cup – awarded to the Senior Athletics Champion. Donated by his parents in memory of Victor Thomas Symes Warry who was killed in action in France in 1915 during World War II.[66] Warry was at Newington 1912-1914.[67]

The school teaches the core curriculum outlined by the NSW Board of Studies (BOS) between Kindergarten and Year 8. In addition to this curriculum, the students study one major language other than English. From Years 9 to 12, students adhere to the Board of Studies curriculum standards that all NSW schools follow.

Newington College ranked 73rd in New South Wales Higher School Certificate results in 2013, as measured by 'percentage of exams sat that achieved a 'DA' (Distinguished Achievement)' score, with 20% of students meeting the criteria.[70]

Newington Challenge – The scheme teaches the skills needed to survive in the bush including first aid, orienteering and camp craft. Year 10 there are activities including: archery, self-defence and indoor climbing. There are also two camps per year.[72]

Music – Founders Concert is Newington's major music performance annually and joint choral concerts are held with MLC School. The Symphonic Winds group compete in public festivals and challenges and the Chapel Choir provide music year long at house services and evensong. All group participate in the GPS Music Festival.

Drama – Newington produces a Musical Theatre every two years, as well as both a Senior and Middle School Production every year. Newington also is involved in Theatresports, hosting the Inner West Cup annually, as well as competing in Impro Australia's Theatresports Schools Competition.

The school annual of Newington College is called The Newingtonian[73] and dates to the early 1880s. Three hand-written news sheets with the title The Newingtonian we're circulated in 1883 but the first printed issue of the magazine was published in June 1884.[74] The aim of its founding editors was ‘...to place on record the simple annals of boyhood’. A quotation from the Latin poet Horace — Memor Puertiæ, translated as ‘remembering boyhood’ — served as The Newingtonian'smotto until 1951. This briefly reappeared on the 1971 issues. The magazine was initially published as a quarterly, with an index for every twelve issues. From 1919 until 1940 The Newingtonian appeared three times a year and then was published twice a year until1972 when it first appeared as an annual. The size changed to its present format in 1971. From its early days the magazine was setting the agenda for change in the college and upon the arrival of James Egan Moulton as President an 1894 issue called for a school song.[75] The first photograph appeared in 1896 of the Rugby Union1st XV and the magazine has been in full colour since the 1980s. As with other traditional school magazines, The Newingtonian has carried reports of major events, of academic and sporting achievement, of co-curricular activities and of many other aspects of the school's day-to-day life. Even before the founding of the Old Newingtonians’ Union in 1895, the magazine has profiled the achievements of alumni. During the South African and World Wars records of Old Newingtonians armed service were published. Between 1995 and 2000 a separate publication of the same format known as The Old Newingtonian was published by the college.[76]

"strengthen the bonds between Old Newingtonians and between Old Newingtonians and the College; foster and develop active participation in, and support of, the affairs of the College and of the Union; support and promote the Newington Foundation and the Old Newingtonians' Union Centennial Trust; organise and carry out social functions in pursuance of the objects of the Union; promote the interests and welfare of the College in all its aspects; commemorate those Old Newingtonians who have given their lives in the service of their country; and provide club facilities for members of the Union either solely or in conjunction with other clubs, unions or associations of ex-students of other schools".[80]

The school's bi-annual publication Newington News is sent to all old boys whose current addresses are known to the Union. The Union previously published directories of Old Newingtonians at five yearly intervals[81] but that publication has been superseded by an on-line directory.

Affiliated organisations of the Union are: Wyvern Cricket Club, playing in the Sydney Suburban Competition; Lodge Wyvern, a Masonic Lodge; and The 70 Club, a luncheon club for senior Old boys. The Old Newingtonians' Union is a member of the GPS Old Boys Unions' Council.